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Quasi-periodic bedding in the sedimentary rock record of mars

January 1, 2008

Widespread sedimentary rocks on Mars preserve evidence of surface conditions different from the modern cold and dry environment, although it is unknown how long conditions favorable to deposition persisted. We used 1-meter stereo topographic maps to demonstrate the presence of rhythmic bedding at several outcrops in the Arabia Terra region. Repeating beds are ∼10 meters thick, and one site contains hundreds of meters of strata bundled into larger units at a ∼10:1 thickness ratio. This repetition likely points to cyclicity in environmental conditions, possibly as a result of astronomical forcing. If deposition were forced by orbital variation, the rocks may have been deposited over tens of millions of years.

Publication Year 2008
Title Quasi-periodic bedding in the sedimentary rock record of mars
DOI 10.1126/science.1161870
Authors Kevin W. Lewis, Oded Aharonson, John P. Grotzinger, Randolph L. Kirk, Alfred S. McEwen, Terry-Ann Suer
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Science
Index ID 70033140
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Astrogeology Science Center
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